Please share your favourite vaulting games on this page, you can describe the game and then add some photos. Games are a great way to build confidence and gain new skills and according to an article from the American Vaulting Association on Recreational Vaulting children learn best when having fun, and adults can have fun too. Use the thread section below to tell us about your experiences of game play, or better still use the EasyEdit tag above and add the instructions for your favourite vaulting game.

Team Water Race:
5 vaulters per team, you need a bucket, a jug and three plastic cups.
Two people on the horse, the third gets legged up onto the neck facing backwards. Fill the cup of the front vaulter with water and transfer into the cup of each team member. The person nearest the rump dismounts and pours their water into a container. The neck vaulter transfers around to sitting in basic seat, and the next vaulter is legged up pnto the neck then the water pouring is repeated. Run thru so all of the team members get a go at dismounting and pouring their water into the container. Once all have completed measure the amount of water retained. The winning team is the one with the most water. Lunger beware at end of game - they will get you.

Pyjama Game:
3 vaulters per team, you need an old set of large pyjamas - a shirt and shorts. Each team member has to mount the horse and put on and take off the pyjamas, including doing up a button. This can be done at stand for all team members but a variety of paces i.e. one at walk, one at trot and one at canter, or you can have one team member perform it in sitting, one in kneeling and one in standing position all at the same pace. Pyjamas get hung in the handle before dismounting, ready for the next vaulter.

Captain Ball:
Vaulter on horse sits, kneels or stands backwards. A light soccer ball is used to throw and catch to the rest of the team following behind the horse. Each vaulter after throwing runs to the back of the line. When gone through whole team vaulter on horse dismounts (can leap frog off rump) and next one mounts. Continue till all have had a turn.

Bucket Ball:
Use a large flexible bucket to throw ball into from horse. Can also throw shoes, into a bucket or hoola hoop. Other vaulters are used to fetch ball and throw to vaulter and then try to get in bucket again. Rotate turns.

Skill Building Exercises:
Exercises to develop skills, not just practicing the compulsory moves, improve confidence and balance whilst having fun. Here are just a few ideas which we can all add to. For video of skill building exercises visit E-Vaulting blog to view some of these exercises being practiced.

Stand & Land Skills: Standing up and walking backwards off the rump, landing and springing up.
On the back of the horse going from prince to stand and back down again, alternating legs. Make sure its done smoothly and soft on horse.
Standing backwards and running off or leapfrogging off the rump. Make sure knees stay over toes on landing and spring up and run.

Mill Building: Mill around in to the count of four continuously and then again much faster say over in two and sit for two.
Mill around and the lunger call "stop" the vaulter has to hold leg in that position for a count of four and then continue on.






Photos to come!